Wall construction



Sept. 23. 1924. 1,509,637

w. J.-BURTON WALL CONSTRUCT I OH Filed Jan. 25 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l I l g FEE.

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.Sept. 23 19 w. J. BURTON WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tain new and'useful Improvements in Wall 'WJEIJLIAIW. El. BURTQN, 01E BETH/011, MICHIGAN.

wr. consrnuorron.

Application filed January 525, 1922. Serial No. 531,625.

To all whom it may concern .4

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. BURTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented cer- Constructions, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a wall construction in which hollow sheet metal tongued and grooved sections are assembled to form walls or partitions.

The ob ect of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive material adapted for use by unskilled labor by means of which garages and similar structures may be erectedrapidly.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein h Figure 1 is an end elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a modification;

.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the modification shown inFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same modification;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of a panel, adapted to receive another panel at right angles thereto;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of a corner panel, engaged by the normal type of intermediate panel;

. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of-a modification of the. structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig, 8 is a horizontal section of a corner panel, and

Figs. 9 and 10 are sections illustrating the manner of joining the edges of the sheet metal from which the panels are constructed.

Referring to Fig. 6, the-panel. 1 comprises sheet metal side pieces 2 and 3 which are identical in structure, but oppositely arranged, these side members being connected at one end of the panel by a tongued piece 4 and at the other end by a grooved piece 5.

, As shown in Fig. 6, the tongue piece 4 consists of a sheet of metal bent into a U- shaped configuratiom the metal being bent outwardly at the-free ends of the side members 6 and 7 of the U in opposite directions for a distance determined by the space desired between the side walls of the panel. These outward extensions 8 and '9 are then rebent toward the sides 6 and 7 of the U,

the metal terminating at a suiiicient distance 5 from the sides of the U to receive inwardly extending edge portions 10 and 11 of the side members 2 and 3, the rebent portions of the members 8 and 9 being engaged by similarly rebent portions of the members 10 and 11.

It will be noted that by using this form of metal joint, the metal of the panel is-continuous at the corners 12 and 13.

The groove member 5 consists of a sheet of metal bent into a ll-shaped configuration having side portions 14 and 15spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive therebetween the tongue member 4 of the adjacent section.

At the end of each sectionl l and 15, the

metal is bent outward as shown at 16 and 17 and then rebent toward the axis of the panel, the rebent portions being more remote from the base of the U than the portions 16 and 17. The side members 2 and 3 are-bent inward at 18 and 19 and their free edges rebent to form hook-shaped'portions to engage the rebent portions of the extensions 16 and 17. It will be seen that this method of connecting the parts providescontinuous corners for the panel at 20 and 21.

The anel described will be used with other similar panels to form a continuous wall or partition, but a somewhat modified formwill be used at places Where a transverse partition is to be attached.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the side member 3 instead of being continuous as in Fig. 6, will be made in two sections,

cured to the side wall 3 of the panel 1 105 by rivets 26, the side wall 3 belng integral instead of formed in separate pieces as in Fig. 5.

The corner panels will be modified so that the tongue and groove pieces will lie at no right angles to each other as shown in Figs;

6 and 8. In the form shown in Fig. 6, the

corner panel 27 is formed at one end with a grooved piece 5 identical with the one used in the panel 1. The side member 28 constituting the outer side and end of the panel 27 is hooked at one end as indicated at 18 to engage with the groove member 5, is bent at the corner 20, extends for the length of the panel to the corner 12 where it is again bent at right angles and extends for the width of the panel, as indicated at 29, to the corner 13, where it is again bent and formed into a hook member 30 to engage with one hooked side of the tongue member 31. The side member 32 is hooked at one end as indicated at 19, then is bent at the corner 21. and extends to the tongue member 31 where it is formed into a hook member 33 to engage with a hooked side of the tongue member 31.

In the form shown in Fig. 8, the corner panel 34 is formed with the groove member 5 at right angles to the tongue member 4 and the side members connecting the tongue member with the groove member consist of two pieces of unequal lengths, bent at right angles to form the inner and outer walls 35 and 36 respectively. Except for the bending of the walls 35 and 36, the structure of this form of corner member is identical with the ordinary side panel 1.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the side walls 37 and 38 are shown as flat sheets having flanges bent at right angles thereto at each end toward the interior of the panel. The tongue member 39 is folded to form tongues 40 and 41 spaced from each other a distance equal to about a third of the width of the panel. Outward from the tongues 40 and 41 the member 39 is rebent upon itself at 42 and 43, and again bent outwardly parallel with the rebent portion as indicated at 44 and 45, and spaced therefrom to receive the flanges at the end of the side walls 37 and 38. After the flanges have been inserted into the space between the parallel portions 42 and 44 and 43 and 45, the outer ends of the member 39 are folded as indicated at 46 and 47 to engage the outer faces of the side walls 37 and 38, to prevent the withdrawal of the flanges from the tongue member 39. At the opposite end of the panel, the groove member 48 is folded to form grooves 49 and 50 and extends outward from the groove portions to the side walls 37v and 38 where it is folded to receive the flanges upon the ends of the slde members 37 and 38 in a manner precisely similar to that in which the member 39. is folded at the opposite end of the panel, the end flanges 51 and 52 acting to hold the side walls 37 and 38 in position. 7

The sheet metal sections described may be painted or may be made of galvanized sheet iron, to prevent rust, but where a stucc0 or plaster surface is desired, the side members of the panel may be perforated as indicated at 53, or the side members may be made of expanded metal lath to receive the plastic coating.

The upper and lower ends of the sheet metal panels may be secured to metal or wooden sills 54 and top rails 55 by suitable fastenings 56, such as nails driven throu 11 extended end portions 57 of the side wa ls 37 and 38 and into the members 54 and 55, these upper and lower wooden members being embraced by said end portions of the side walls serving to secure the sheet metal panels in line and prevent them from be coming disengaged from each other.

In Figs, 9 and 10, are illustrated alternative forms of corner joints which ma be used in place of those illustrated in Figs. 4 or 5.

A wall construction as described will be light, strong and low in cost, since it is evident that the erection of this material may readily be accomplished by unskilled labor.

The air spaces between the inner and outer walls of the panels act as insulators, making the structure constructed of such panels warmer in winter and cooler in summer than a similar building would be having only the usual corrugated sheet metal side walls.

The rigidity of the panels is such that wooden studding is not necessary, a garage or other building thus being much more fireproof than if built with the ordinary wooden framework.

I claim 1. A hollow sheet metal wall com rising a series of sections or panels each avin two substantially parallel side members an separate end members formed, one with a tongue portion and the other with a groove to receive the tongue on an adjacent section, the side and end members of each section being interlocked along their joining edge rtions.

2. K wall comprising a series of hollow sheet metal wall sections or panels each having a tongue projecting laterally from a vertical end wall and a groove in its opposite end wall to receive the tongue on an adjacent section or panel, and members extending longitudinally of the wall across the u per and lower ends of said sections, the side walls of said sections being extended to embrace said members and to be secured thereto to hold the sections in place upon said members and in interlocked relation.

-3. A wall comprising a plurality of hollow sheet metal wall sections or panels and each section or panel including parallel side members forming the faces of the wall and separate end members with the edge portions of said end members interlocked with the edge portions of the side members, one of said end members being formed with a tongue and another out said end members being formed with a groove to receive a tongue on an adjacent section.

t. A sheet metal wall panel comprising two substantially parallel side members having their opposite edges bent at substantially right angles toward each other and rebent outwardly to form hooked engaging portions and an intermediate member at each edge of the panel til-shaped at its central portion and having oppositely extending portions hooked for engagement with the hooked engaging portions of the side members, the central ll-shaped portion of one of said members projecting outwardly from the panel to form a tongue and the U- shaped portion of the other of said members extending into the hollow interior to form a groove.

5. A hollow sheet metal wall formed of a series of separate vertically extending sections, each section comprising parallel side members with the vertical edges of said members inbent at right angles to form the corners of the section and a portion of the end wall thereof, said edge ortions being folded inwardly and eaten ed outwardly parallel to the inbent end portions, eparat-e end members formed with intermediate U- shaped portions in cross section and with laterally extending edge portions folded into parallel relation to interlock with the edge portions on the side members, the end members being arranged, one with the intermediate ll-shaped portion extending outwardly to form a tongue on the section, and the other end member positioned with its intermediate U-shaped portion extending inwardly to form a longitudinal groove in the section adapted to receive the tongue on an adjacent section and connect the several sections together, and members extending longitudinally of the wall above and below the several sections and projecting upwardly and downwardly within the ends of the several sections to hold the sections in alinement.

In testimony whereof ll aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANNA M. Donn, K H. Burner. 

